Marine Asks Out Michelle Obama At Toys For Tots

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle Obama is urging people to give to charities for the holiday season as she brought more than 800 gifts Friday from White House staff to donate to the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign.

The first lady also got a surprise invitation from a soldier to be his date at next year’s Marine Corps Ball.

Lance Cpl. Aaron Leeks, 20, of Frederick, Md., said he asked Obama to accompany him because he’s a fan and admires her work to support the military.

When Obama was sorting toys at the charity event and came close to Leeks, he leaned over a toy bin and got her attention to pop the question. The first lady smiled and called over a staff member as she chatted with Leeks.

“She said she’d love to go,” Leeks said. “Actually, she said I’d need to speak to her husband, too, but she said she’d love to.”

Leeks said he plans to follow up on his invitation. In January, he will be deployed for the first time to Afghanistan but plans to attend the ball when he’s home next year.

Later at the White House, Press Secretary Jay Carney was asked whether the president would consider such an offer. Carney said that may be the first the president was hearing about this.

“The first lady’s commitment to military families is very strong, indeed,” he said. “So I’m sure she was flattered by the invitation.”